Life is Healthy

If you recall, I did a recent post about a Magic Convention in Blackpool (HERE)
well this is the feedback of that event as posted on Magicweek as I couldn't attend, but thought you too may be interested in how it went.

Wow! This year's Blackpool Convention was really special.
There were just so many talented magicians, in all departments, that many convention goers were rating it as the best Blackpool Convention ever. Highlights for me included the Saturday night $10,000 Intercontinental Stage Magic Championships, which featured outstanding performances from Kyoko (chic and charismatic), Dirk Losander (superb technique), Marc Oberon (stunning UV concepts), and eventual winner Han Seol-Hee whose speed, skill, dexterity and magical showmanship took CD manips to new heights. He possessed fantastic control, captivated the entire audience and was rewarded with a standing ovation and the first prize of $10,000.

In Sunday's International Gala Show Jerome Murat's magical Living Statue act, Tony Chapek's playful interactive television routine and Jeff McBride's superb Miser's Dream, Water Bowls and Card work, totally did it for me... and that was just in the first half!
Korea's An Ha-Lim (cards) and France's Tony Frebourg (diabolos) respectively took the art of card manipulation, and the skills of the diaboloist on to a whole new level. It was a brilliant gala show.

125 magic dealers from all over the world exhibited!

An added pleasure this year was seeing David Blaine, taking some time out from a busy schedule to enjoy the convention too. Despite being virtually mobbed on occasion by groups of camera-wielding magicians he took it all with humour and in his stride. David Blaine gave magic a much needed kick-start into the 21st Century some ten years ago, and 'street magic' (as we now know it) was born.

So it sounds like I missed yet another wonderful event, I do so much miss the Magic scene, but I dont think I will return - just dabble now and then and watch with admiration.

This weekend a wonderful 3 day event is taking place in Blackpool - a MAGIC convention.

Basically this is an opportunity for magicians from all over the world to get together to witness their peers perform and share secrets; which is unusual because as you know the Magic Circle is a very secretive organisation.

Usually when I attend these gatherings there is around 3,000+ members and about 100+ stalls selling all kinds of magic; from actual tricks, props, costumes to memorabilia.

They also have some wonderful workshops where top professionals share their ideas or even their tricks with fellow magicians. (This is also where I fell out with Joe Pasquale over an offhand remark he made to me - but we made up and he's forgiven).

This year performing at the convention is:
Daryl
Eugene Burger
Michael Ammar
Etienne Pradier
Jeff McBride
along with many, many others.

For me it is always a pleasure to perform magic and to watch other performing too, especially the high calibre of magicians they have at this convention. I have had the pleasure of meeting some amazing performers and individuals at these events.
My magic highlight would be watching Derren Brown perform twice (not at Blackpool) and later meeting up with him for a chat, which was nice.